Skate Game Demands Constant Internet Connection

EA's highly anticipated revival of Skate will necessitate an "always on" internet connection. In an updated FAQ on the official blog, developer Full Circle provided a straightforward response: "No," explaining that "The game and city are designed to be a living, breathing massively multiplayer skateboarding sandbox that is always online and always evolving. You’ll witness both large-scale changes to the city over time, as well as smaller, dynamic events and in-game activities."

An "always on" requirement means that the game cannot be played offline, even if you opt out of multiplayer modes or prefer solo play. Full Circle insists on this to fulfill their vision of a connected skateboarding world, stating, "to deliver on [its] vision of a skateboarding world, the game will always require a live connection."

"That is probably not much of a surprise if you’ve been in our playtest," the developer noted. This is due to the fact that in September 2024, they initiated the Always-On Playtest, which aims to "test the game in a permanent live environment, with servers running around the clock."

Skate’s early access launch is scheduled for 2025, though an exact date remains unconfirmed. The game was first announced during EA Play way back in 2020, described then as being in the "very early" stages of development. Since that announcement, Full Circle has engaged the community through closed community playtests of early builds and, most recently, introduced microtransactions.

Players can now spend real-world money on a virtual currency called San Van Bucks, which can be used to purchase cosmetic items. Full Circle aims to refine Skate’s microtransaction system, expressing their desire for players to have a "positive experience when purchasing items from the Skate store."

"We know that using real money during a playtest is a little unusual, but we believe it’s the best way to properly assess and adjust the system before launch," the team stated in today's blog update. "If you notice prices or other aspects changing over time, please understand that this is part of the testing process. Additionally, you will receive the amount you spent during playtesting in San Van Bucks (SVB) when we reset for the Early Access launch."